East Windsor, CT — January 7, 2026, William Hastings lost his life due to a pedestrian versus truck accident at approximately 6:45 p.m. along North Road.
According to authorities, 69-year-old William Hastings was taking care of some maintenance beneath a car carrier on North Road when the accident took place.
Officials indicate that, for as yet unknown reasons, the truck rolled backward, pinning Hastings between the dual wheels of the truck beneath the truck’s cab.
Hastings, who had reportedly sustained fatal injuries due to the accident, was declared deceased at the scene. Additional details pertaining to this incident are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When someone is killed while working under a commercial truck, the first place any serious investigation should look is at the steps—or lack of steps—taken to secure the vehicle. Trucks don’t roll on their own. That kind of movement only happens when critical safety procedures are skipped, forgotten, or fail.
In my experience, one of the most overlooked risks in truck operations isn’t what happens out on the road—it’s what happens in the moments when the vehicle is stationary but someone is still interacting with it. Whether it’s a driver doing a walkaround, a mechanic performing a quick repair, or a yard worker handling cargo, the assumption is often that the truck won’t move. But that assumption only holds up if the right precautions are in place.
When a rollback happens, investigators need to look closely at:
- Whether the parking brake was applied and in working order.
- Whether wheel chocks or other physical restraints were used—basic tools that prevent movement even if brakes fail.
- Whether the work was being performed on a slope, uneven ground, or under conditions that increased the risk of movement.
- Whether the truck’s air brake system had any issues that could cause brake release after the engine was turned off.
- What training the person working under the truck received, and whether the company provided proper procedures or oversight.
I’ve handled cases where deaths like this could have been prevented by a five-dollar set of chocks. But it’s not just about the equipment—it’s about the culture. Was safety treated as a checklist item, or was it taken seriously? Were workers taught why those steps matter, or just told to get the job done?
Ultimately, incidents like this don’t come down to freak chance. They come down to choices—by individuals, supervisors, and companies. And when those choices lead to a fatal result, someone has to answer for them.
Key Takeaways:
- Vehicle rollbacks during maintenance are almost always preventable with proper safety procedures.
- Investigators should focus on brake engagement, use of wheel chocks, and the condition of the working surface.
- Company policies, training, and oversight often determine whether those precautions are actually followed.
- Rollbacks can result from mechanical failures—but usually only when basic safeguards are missing.
- Accountability requires asking who had the responsibility to prevent movement, and whether they took it seriously.
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